Telescoping conveyer



Aug. 28, 1956 M. s. BOWEN 2,760,617

TELESCOPING CONVEYER Filed Jan. 11, 1955 3. Sheets-Sheet 1 o a; o o f oLO o 7 l i 0 V o INVENTOR MEREL S. BOWEN w 2 E B o l?- i M. S. BOWENTELES Aug. 28, 1956 COPING CONVEYER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11,1955- INVENTOR MEREL S. BOWEN M. S. BOWEN TELESCOPING CONVEYER Aug. 28,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 11, 1955 INVENTOR MEREL s. BOWENATTORNEY TELESCOPING CONVEYER Merci S. Bowen, Ellwood City, Pan,assignor to Mathews Conveyer Company, Ellwood City, Pm, a corporation ofPennsylvania Application January 11, 1955, Serial No. 481,120 13 Claims.(Cl. 193-35) This invention relates to conveyers, and more particularlyto a telescoping conveyer which may be extended from either end.

Telescoping conveyers of the general type disclosed herein have foundwide acceptance because of their mobility and the ease with which theymay be adapted to meet various situations encountered in unloading orloading trucks or railway cars. My invention relates to certainimprovements in conveyers of this type whereby such a conveyor may beextended from either end and may thus be readily adapted for use incramped spaces.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a conveyer which may beextended from either end.

Another object of my invention is to provide a telescoping conveyer inwhich the conveying elements present a smooth surface when the conveyeris fully extended.

A further object of my invention is to reduce friction between thevarious units and eliminate any tendency of adjacent units to bind whenbeing extended or telescoped. A further object of my invention is toprovide improved construction for maintaining the units in theirextended position.

My invention contemplates a self-supporting primary conveyer unit inwhich a plurality of conveying elements are mounted between a pair ofspaced, parallel, longitudin lly extending side rails. At one end ofthis primary conveyer unit, a bracket cooperates with certain parts of asecondary conveyer unit to maintain the primary and secondary conveyerunits against relative longitudinal movement when said units aredisposed either in fully extended or fully telescoped position. Asecondary conveyer unit having a plurality of conveying elements mountedbetween a pair of side rails in a manner similar to that of the primaryunit is supported at one end by a pair of legs. At the other end of thesecondary unit a flanged wheel assembly engages and is supported by theside rails of the primary conveyer unit. This wheel assembly is providedwith a guide arm which depends downwardly from the wheel assembly andengages a cooperating portion of the side rail of the primary unit toguide the wheel assembly into the aforementioned bracket when theprimary and secondary units are moved into a fully extended position.

With the wheel assembly engaged by the bracket, the units areeffectively maintained in their fully extended positions againstrelative longitudinal movement. In this position, the conveying elementsof the two units are disposed in a common plane. Mounted upon the legswhich support the other end of the secondary unit, is a locking memberwhich may be engaged in the bracket assembly of the primary unit tomaintain the units in their fully telescoped position.

When the primary and secondary units are disposed in a partiallytelescoped position, the conveying elements of the secondary unit aresupported above the conveying elements of the primary unit and articlesbeing conveyed upon the assembly must drop from the secondary unit downupon the primary unit. When small articles are being transferred uponthe conveyer, the articles tilt when dropping from the secondary unitand often become jammed by wedging between adjacent conveying elementson the primary unit immediately below the end of the secondary unit. Inorder to prevent this, I have devised a transfer ramp which bridges thedrop off between the secondary and primary unit and accomplishes asmooth transition of articles from the secondary to the primary unit.This transfer ramp is separable from the conveying units and thereforeis readily placed in position upon the units regardless of the relativedegree of telescoping between the units. The transfer ramp is made froma frame work in which are supported a plurality of conveying rollersdisposed in a plane which is inclined between the plane of the conveyingelements on the secondary unit and the plane of the conveying elementson the primary unit. The transverse extent of the transfer ramp isslightly greater than the conveying units in order that portions of theframe work may loosely fit over the outside of the side rails of therespective units. At its upper end, the transfer ramp is notched forengagement with cooperating parts of the wheel assembly on the secondaryunit. At the lower end, the transfer ramp is extended and cross piecesare provided to fill the gap between adjacent conveying elements of theprimary unit immediately below the end of the conveying elements uponthe transfer ramp. The cross pieces thus prevent small articles fromentering the space between adjacent conveying elements on the primaryunit and thus eliminate any tendency of the articles to jam upon theconveyer.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will becomeapparent with reference to the following specification and to thedrawings in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the severalviews.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a conveyer embodying my inventionwhich is shown in a fully extended position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the conveyer assembly of Fig. 1 shown in afully telescoped position;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 33 of Fig. 2, andshowing the arrangement of the conveying wheels;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail side views of the wheel assembly by whichone unit is supported upon the other and the bracket assembly. Theseviews respectively show the wheel on top of the rail, fully positionedwithin the locking bracket, and partially entered into the lockingbracket;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the detail section shown in Fig. 6 showing aroller type conveyer;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the transfer ramp; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the conveyer assembly showing the conveyerunits partially telescoped with the transfer ramp in its operativeposition.

A two unit telescoping conveyer assembly embodying my invention is shownin a fully extended position in Fig. l. The major components of theconveyer assembly include a primary unit 1 having a locking bracketassembly indicated generally by the numeral 2 and a secondary unit 3provided at one end with a wheel assembly 4 which, as shown in Fig. 1,may engage the bracket 2 of primary unit 1 to maintain the primary andsecondary units in their fully extended position. At the other end ofsecondary unit 3 is a locking member indicated generally by the numeral5 which may be engaged in bracket 2 of primary unit 1 to maintain theprimary and secondary units in their fully telescoped position as shownin Fig. 2.

The wheel assembly 4 not only may be used to restrain the primary andsecondary units against movement from their fully extended position butalso serves as a rolling support for one end of secondary unit 3 uponprimary unit 1.

Primary unit 1 has a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extendingside rails 10. Supporting legs 12 are pivotally attached to the ends ofeach of side rails 10 and have vertically adjustable casters 14. Bracingunits 16 are pivotally attached to side rails 10 at their upper ends andare pivotally attached to a sliding member 18 at their lower endswhereby side rails 10 may be pivoted upon supporting legs 12 toaccommodate vertical adjustment of the legs. Side rails 10 are formedfrom a structural member of channel shaped section having a vertical web20, an upper flange 22 and a lower flange 24. As seen in Fig. 3, theflanges 22 and 24 extend outwardly from the center line of the conveyorassembly. A plurality of conveying elements, which may take the form ofspaced wheels 26 as shown in Fig. 3 or single rollers 26 as shown inFig. 7, are rotatably mounted on axles 27 extending between the verticalwebs 20 of side rails 10.

The details of bracket assembly 2 may be best understood with referenceto Figs. 4 through 7 of the drawings. A first vertical flange portion 28overlies the end of the channel section of side rails 10 and is securedalong one vertical edge to the vertical Web 20 of side rail 10. Thetransverse dimension of the vertical flange portion 28 is equal to thatof the transverse extent of upper and lower flanges 22 and 24 of siderails 10. Vertical flange portion 28 is further secured to the ends offlanges 22 and 24 and extends below the plane of lower flange 24 andthen bends into a plane parallel to that of lower flange 24 to form abottom flange portion 30. Bottom flange portion 30 terminates in asecond vertical flange portion 32 which, when engaged with the wheelassembly 4 of secondary unit 3 effectively prevents disengagement of theprimary unit 1 and secondary unit 3. The three flange portions 28, 30,and 32 extend laterally from a web 34 of the bracket 2.

Secondary unit 3 includes a pair of spaced parallel longitudinallyextending side rails indicated generally by the numeral 36. Side rails36 are similar to side rails 10 of the primary unit and comprise avertical web section 38 and upper and lower flanges 38 and 38respectively. A portion of the lower flanges 38" adjacent the wheelassembly 4 is cut away at 39 in order to accommodate wheel assembly 4,note Figures and 6. Above the portions 39, the upper flanges of siderails 36 are bent downwardly as at 40. A plurality of conveying elements26 are mounted between side rails 36 in the same manner as the conveyingelements 26 of primary unit 1. Secondary unit 3 is supported at one endby a pair of supporting legs 12 which are pivotally mounted at one endof the respective side rails in the same manner as the supporting legs12 of primary unit 1. Vertically adjustable casters 14 are likewiseprovided for the legs of secondary uni-t 3, as are bracing units 16. Theother end of secondary unit 3 is supported on primary unit 1 by wheelassembly 4.

Details of wheel assembly 4 may be best understood with reference toFig. 3 of the drawings. Vertical flange portions 38 of secondary unitside rails 36 are bored adjacent their rearward ends as at 43, forreception of a transverse shaft 44. Spacer 45 is mounted upon shaft 44between side rails 36 for transverse bracing of this end of side rails36. At the outer side of side rails 36, a second spacer 46 serves tolocate a roller bearing 47 which rotatably supports flanged wheel 48.Spaced outwardly from bearing assembly 47 as by shims 49, is a bearingelement 50, having a reduced diameter portion 51 for rotatablysupporting a depending arm 52. At the lower end of arm 52, an inwardlyextending pin 53, secured as by welding, projects from arm 52 into theregion between the upper 22 and lower 24 flanges of primary unit siderails 10. Arm 52 is located on reduced diameter portion 51 by a secondshim 54, lock washer 55 and nut 56, which is threadedly secured uponshaft 44 to hold the aforementioned elements in their assembledcondition. As shown in Fig. 3, the reduced diameter portion 51 is ofgreater transverse extent than the width of arm 52, thus permitting aslight axial play of arm 52 upon reduced diameter portion 51. Thisprevents arm 52 from being clamped against the shoulder on bearingelement 50, thus assuring freedom of movement of arm 52 relative tobearing element 50.

Depending lugs 64 are welded to the outer edges of lower flanges 38" ofside rails 36 and slidably engage the upper flange 22 of side rails 18to cooperate with the flanges of wheels 50 and upper flanges 22 of siderails 10 to guide the relative longitudinal movement of primary unit 1and secondary unit 3. Bracing unit 16 of secondary conveyer unit 3 isused to pivotally mount locking member 5. Locking member 5 consists of apivoting link 60 and an outboardly extending pin or roller 62 forengagement with bracket assembly 2 to maintain the units in a fullytelescoped position.

When primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3 are in their fully telescopedpositions, as shown in Figure 2, locking member 5 may be engaged inbracket 2 to restrain the primary and secondary units against anyrelative longitudinal movement. With the conveyer assembly in thisposition, the left hand end of secondary unit 3 (as viewed in Fig. 2) issupported upon primary unit 1 by wheel assembly 4. To extend theconveyer assembly to its fully extended position, the pins 62 aredisengaged from brackets 2 by pivoting link 60 upwardly. When pins 62are disengaged from bracket assemblies 2, the conveyer assembly may beextended by relative longitudinal movement of primary unit 1 andsecondary unit 3. Supporting legs 12 may be provided with any type ofconventional brake to lock them in position upon the floor. Eitherprimary unit 1 or secondary unit 3 may be locked in position, and theunbraked unit may be moved to eX- tend the conveyer assembly. As theconveyer assembly approaches its fully extended position (see Fig. 6)the pin 58 of guide arm 52 engages the vertical flange portion 28 ofbracket 2. With pin 58 thus engaged with flange 28, wheel 50 isconstrained to move downwardly into the slot formed by vertical flangeportions 28 and 32. Further movement of wheel 50 causes the primary andsecondary units to assume the positions shown in Figure 5 with wheel 50resting upon bottom flange 30 of bracket 2. In this position the siderails 19 and 36 are disposed in a common, generally horizontal plane,thus providing efiectively a single conveyer whose length is equal tothe sum of the lengths of primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3. Theprimary unit 1 and secondary unit 3 are maintained in their extendedposition by the cooperation of the wheel assembly 4 on secondary unit 3and the bracket assembly 2 on primary unit 1. To return the conveyerunits to their telescoped positions, the wheeled end of secondary unit 3may be raised upwardly to disengage wheels 50 from the slots andbrackets 2. The conveyer assembly may then be telescoped by relativemovement of primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3.

When the conveyer units are in their fully extended position, theconveying elements of both units are disposed in the same plane, andthere is no drop-01f between the two units. When the conveyer units arein a partially telescoped position, there is a drop-oi? between the twounits, due to the fact that the secondary unit is supported on top ofthe primary unit. Packages or other items which are being transferred onthe conveyor there fore must drop from the secondary unit onto theprimary unit. Packages which are being transferred by the conveyerbecome tilted as they pass over the drop-cit and may fall upon theprimary unit with one corner edge of the package jamming in the spacebetween two adjacent rollers of the primary unit, thus clogging theconveyer unit. To prevent this, a transfer ramp may be placed upon theprimary unit in the manner shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

The transfer ramp, which is shown in .perspectivein Fig. 8, has aplurality of conveying rollers 100 .which are rotatably supportedbetween apair of side frame members 102. Side frame members 102 aretransversely spaced so as to clear side rails .36 of secondary conveyerunit 3 and are provided with arecess 104 at their forward ends which isadapted to fit over bearing element 50 of wheel assembly 4 (see Fig. 3).Spacer .106 extends between side frame members 102andserves tov bracethe forward end of the transferramp. Atthe rearward end of side framemembers 102, extensions 10,8 arersecured as by welding. Extensions 108areinclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of side frame members102 and serve as a mounting meansfor cross pieces 114). .Cross pieces110 are secured .to and extend between extensions 108 and arelongitudinally spaced so as to lie in the space between adjacentconveying elements of primary unit 1. See Fig. 9).

As seen in Fig. 9, when the transfer ramp is placed in position upon theconveyer assembly, the conveying rollers 16% provide an inclined planeor rampbetween the conveying elements of secondary unit 3 andtheconveying elements of primary unit It. Articles being transferred alongthe conveyer pass from the end of secondary unit 3 to the conveyingrollers of the transfer ramp and travel down the incline of the transferramp to the conveying elements of primary unit 1. In this manner, asmooth transition of articles is accomplished and the drop-off whichwould otherwise be present is eliminated. Cross pieces llil serve notonly to support the lower end of the transfer ramp upon the primary unit1 butalso serve to fill the spaces between adjacent conveyingelements ofprimary unit 1 and thusprevent the corner edges of packages or articlesfrom entering the spacebetween the adjacent conveying elements at theend of the inclined ramp of the transfer ramp. The transfer ramp isreadily separable from the conveying units and therefore be easilyplaced upon the conveyer units at any desired position.

While i have disclosed but one embodiment of my invention, it will beimmediately apparent to thoseskilled in the art that my invention iscapable of many rnodifications. For example, I have disclosed atelescoping conveyer consisting of a primary unit and a single secondaryunit. Actually, many secondary units as maybe desirable may be provided.The additional secondary units may be constructed in a manner similar tothe secondary unit 3 and differ solely in the-length of st ppcriing legsnecessary to provide clearance when the units are fully telescoped. Whenadditional secondary units are employed, intermediate secondary unitsmaybe provided with brackets like the brackets 2 employed on the primaryunit 1. Therefore, the embodimentof invention which I have disclosedabove should be considered to be exemplary rather than limiting and thetrue scope of my invention is that, defined by thefollowing claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a primary conveyer unithaving alpa ir of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending side rails,a secondary conveyer unit having a pair of spaced parallel,longitudinally extending side rails, rotatable means ,on said secondaryunitsupporting one end of said secondary unit upon the side rails ofsaid primary unit, and an. c lfset b'racket' assembly at one end of saidprimary unitarranged to receive said rotatable means whensaidunitsare.fully extended and secure saidsecondary unit with its siderails coplanar with the side rails of said primary unit. i

2. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a primary conveyer unithaving a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending side rails,a sec oridary conveyer unit having a pair of spaced parallel,longitudinally extending side rails, rotatable means on said seco ndaryunit supporting one end of said ,secondary unit upon the side r il ,prsai p imary .u snide means de endi g from said one ,endof saidsecondary unit and engageable with the side rails of said primary unitto prevent vertical separation of said primary and secondaryunits, andan offset bracket assembly .at one end of said primaryunit arranged toreceive said rotatable means when said units are fully extended andsecure said secondary unit with its side rails coplanarwith the siderails of said primary unit.

3. A. telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primaryconveyer unit, having a pair ofspaced parallel longitudinally extendingside rails, a secondary conveyer unit supported atone end onsaid primaryunit by means engageable with the side rails of said primary unit, anoffset bracket assembly located at one end of said primary unit, saidsupporting means .beingengageable with said bracket assembly to supportthe side rails of said primary unit and the side rails of said secondaryunit in a common plane and to. restrain said primary and said secondaryunits against relative longitudinal movement.

4. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupportihg primaryconveyer unit, having a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extendingside rails, a secondary conveyer unit supported at one end on saidprimary unit by rotatable means engageable with the side rails ofsaidprimary unit, guide means associated with said rotatable means forpreventing separation of said primary and said secondary units, anoffset bracket assembly located at one end of saidprimary unit,,saidrotatable means being engageable with said bracket assembly to supportthe side rails of said primary unit and the side rails of said secondaryunit in a common plane and to restrain said primary and said secondaryunits against relative longitudinal movement.

5. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprisingaselfsupporting primaryconveyer unit, said primary unit comprising a pair of spaced parallellongitudinally extending side rails, each of said side rails comprisinga vertical web portion 1 and transverse outwardly extending upper andlower flanges, a bracket assembly located at the endof each of said siderails at one end of said primary unit, each of said bracket assembliescomprising a bottom flange portion which is vertically offset from thelower flange of saidside, rails, a secondary conveyer unit comprising apair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending siderailshavingavertical web, vertically adjustablesupporting means located at a firstend of said secondary .unit, a wheel assembly locatedat a second end ofsaid secondary unit and adapted to engage the side rails of said primaryunit to support said second end therenpon, a guide arm located .on said.wheel assemblyand having a pinvat one end which extends inwardly to a'point between the upperand lowerflanges ofthe side rails of saidprimary conveyerunit to prevent separation of said units, said wheelassembly being engageable with the bottom flange portion of said bracketassembly .to restrain said primary and secondary con- .veyerunitsagainst relativelo ngitudinal movement with .the side rails of saidprimary unit and the side rails of said secondary unit supported in .acommon plane.

6. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primaryconveyer. unit, said primary unit comprising a pairv of spaced parallellongitudinally extending side rails, each of ,saidlside rails comprisinga vertical web portion and transverse outwardlyjextending upper andlower flanges, ,a bracket assembly located at the end of each of saidside railsat one end of said primary unit, each 'of said bracketassemblies cornp'rising a bottom flange portion which is verticallyoffset from th e lower flange of said side rails, a secondary conveyerunit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extendingsiderailshaving a vertical web, vertically adjustable supporting meanslocated at a first end of said sec0ndary"un'it,'a" wheelassembly locatedat 'a second end of said secondary unit and adapted to engage the siderails of said primary unit to support said second end thereupon, a guidearm located on said wheel assembly and having a pin at one end whichextends inwardly to a point between the upper and lower flanges of theside rails of said primary conveyer unit to prevent separation of saidunits, said wheel assembly being engageable with the bottom flangeportion or" said bracket assembly to restrain said primary and secondaryconveyer units against relative longitudinal movement from a fullyextended position with the side rails of said primary unit and the siderails of said secondary unit supported in a common plane, and meansassociated with said vertically adjustable supporting means forengagement with said bracket to restrain said primary and said secondaryunit against relative longitudinal movement from a fully telescopedposition.

7. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primaryconveyer unit, having a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extendingside rails, said side rails terminating in oflset bracket assemblies atone end of said primary unit, a secondary conveyer unit supported at oneend on said primary unit by means engageable with the side rails of saidprimary unit, said supporting means being engageable with said bracketassemblies to restrain relative longitudinal movement of said conveyorunits when said conveyer units are in a fully extended position.

8. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primaryconveyer unit, said primary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spacedparallel longitudinally extending side rails, a secondary conveyer unitcomprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side railssupported at a first end by vertically adjustable supporting means,means for aligning the side rails of said secondary unit with the siderails of said primary unit, rotatable means located at a second end ofsaid secondary conveyer unit and adapted to engage the side rails ofsaid primary unit to support said second end thereupon, and a bracketassembly mounted upon one end of each of said side rails of said primaryunit, said rotatable means being engageable within said bracketassemblies when said primary and secondary conveyer units are moved to afirst predetermined position.

9. A telescoping conveyer assembly as recited in claim 8 including meanslocated on said vertically adjustable supporting means of said secondaryunit for engagement within said bracket assembly on said primary unit torestrain relative longitudinal movement of said primary and saidsecondary units from a second predetermined position.

10. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primaryconveyer unit, said primary unit comprising a pair of spaced parallellongitudinally extending side rails, each of said side rails comprisinga vertical web portion and transverse outwardly extending upper andlower flanges, a secondary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spacedparallel longitudinally extending side rails having a vertical web,vertically adjustable supporting means located at a first end of saidsecondary unit, a wheel assembly located at a second end of saidsecondary unit and adapted to engage the side rails of said primary unitto support said second end thereupon, a guide arm located on said wheelassembly and having a pin at one end which extends inwardly to a pointbetween the upper and lower flanges of the side rails of said primaryconveyer unit to prevent separation of said units, a bracket assemblylocated at the end of each of said side rails at one end of said primaryunit, each of said bracket assemblies comprising a bottom flange portionwhich is vertically offset from the lower flange of said side rails;said wheel assembly being engageable with the bottom flange portion ofsaid bracket assembly to maintain said primary and secondary conveyerunits in their fully extended position with the side rails of saidprimary and secondary units supported in a common plane.

11. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primaryconveyer unit, said primary unit comprising a pair of spaced parallellongitudinally extending side rails, each of said side rails comprisinga vertical web portion and transverse outwardly extending upper andlower flanges, each of said side rails terminating in a bracket at oneend of said primary unit, each bracket comprising a first verticalflange portion secured at one edge to its associated web portion andextending transversely to the outer edges of said upper and lowerflanges, said first vertical flange portion extending downwardly fromthe upper flange of its associated side rail to a bottom flange portionwhich is parallel to and located below the associated lower flange, saidbottom flange terminating in a second vertical flange portion parallelto and 1011- gitudinally spaced from said first vertical flange portion,vertically adjustable supporting means located adjacent each end of eachside rail, a plurality of conveying elements mounted on and extendingbetween said side rails; and a secondary conveyer unit comprising a pairof spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails having a verticalweb, the transverse spacing of said last mentioned side rails beingequal to the transverse spacing of the side rails of said primaryconveyer unit, vertically adjustable sup porting means for the siderails of said secondary unit lo cated at a first end of said unit, aplurality of conveying elements mounted on and extending between saidlast mentioned side rails, a shaft located at the end of said lastmentioned side rails opposite said first end and extending transverselythrough and outboardly beyond said side rails, flanged wheels rotatablymounted on said shaft outboardly of each of the vertical webs of saidlast mentioned side rails, said wheels being adapted to roll upon theupper flanges of said primary unit and thereby support the lastmentioned end of said secondary unit, a depending guide lug mounted onthe lower surface of each side rail of said secondary unit intermediatethe ends thereof and adapted to slidably engage the respective outeredges of the upper flanges of said primary unit to guide relativelongitudinal movement of said primary and secondary units, guide armspivotally mounted on said shaft outboardly of each of said wheels, eachof said guide arms extending radially beyond the periphery of itsassociated wheel, a pin at the radially outermost end of each of saidarms, said pins extending inboardly from said guide arms to a positionbetween the upper and lower flanges of the primary unit side rails toprevent separation of said primary and said secondary units, said wheelsbeing engageable with the bottom flange portions of said brackets tomaintain said primary and secondary units in a fully extended position,and a locking member pivotal ly mounted on said vertically adjustablemeans of said secondary unit and engageable with said bracket when saidprimary and secondary units are moved to their fully telescoped positionto maintain said primary and secondary units in said telescopedposition.

12. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a primary conveyer unithaving a plurality of longitudinally spaced conveying elements supportedbetween a pair of side rails, a secondary conveyer unit supported abovesaid primary unit by a wheel assembly adapted to ride upon the siderails of said primary unit whereby said conveyer units may belongitudinally adjusted relative to each other, and a transfer rampcomprising a plurality of conveying rollers supported in a frame, meansat one end of said frame for supporting said one end upon said wheelassembly, and means at the other end of said frame for supporting saidother end upon said primary unit at various predetermined locations withrespect to the conveying elements of said primary unit.

13. A telescoping conveyer assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein saidlast mentioned means comprises a cross piece secured to said frame andextending trans- 9 versely across said primary unit to substantiallyfill the space between adjacent conveying elements on said primary unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS EberleFeb. 10, 1953

